Machine for operating on shoes



May 7, 1963 Filed June 8. 1960 J. L. FORMA MACHINE FOR OPERATING ON SHOES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 7, 1963 J. L. FORMA MACHINE FOR OPERATING ON SHOES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 8. 1960 May 7, 1963 J. 1.. FORMA MACHINE FOR OPERATING on SHOES 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 8. 1960 NWN mksammmm 20 United States iPatent 3,088,146 is IACHINE FQR OPERATING ON SHOES James Louis Forma, Andover, Mass, assignor to Superior Shoe Company, Inc, Lawrence, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Filed June 8, 1960, Ser. No. 34,654 it (Claims. (Ci. 1287) This invention relates to machines for operating on heels and especially to automatically trimming llat heels, either unattached or attached to a preformed outsole, but before attachment to the shoe.

The principal objects of this invention are to provide a machine for automatically trimming the peripheral edge of flat heels, as distinguished from high heels, either before the heel is attached to the outsole or after it is attached thereto, but in any case before it is attached to the shoe; to provide a machine in which one or a plurality of heels of the same size, with or without the attached insoles, may be trimmed at the same time; to provide a machine which may easily be modified by substitution of certain component parts, with no appreciable delay, to trim heels of difierent size and/ or shape; to provide a machine in which trimming is accomplished without producing chatter marks on the surface being trimmed; to provide a machine in which alignment of the heel with the heel trimming cam is facilitated; and to provide a machine which is easy to operate, is of high productive capacity, durable, and involves no hazards.

As herein illustrated, the machine has a rotatable support for receiving a workpiece, a cam fixed to the support and rotatable therewith, which corresponds in shape to the peripheral edge of the work to be operated upon, a carriage movable toward the work support, a cutter and follower on the carriage, means yieldably holding the cutter and follower displaced relative to the carriage toward the support, means for moving the carriage toward the support to bring the follower into engagement with the cam, and means for effecting rotation of the support, the follower operating, by engagement with the cam, to cause the cutter to move relatively to the work, as the latter is turned, to trim the work according to the dictates of the cam.

The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of the machine with the easing broken away in part to show the component parts;

IG. 2 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1, at the upper part of the machine, showing the operating components partly in elevation and partly in section;

FIG. 3 diagrammatically illustrates the component parts of the machine and the motor means for effecting] insane Patented May 7, 1963 ice FIG. 8 is a front elevation of the supporting table showing the gauge mounting.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a rigid bed plate 10 supported horizontally at the upper end of a hollow base 12, the (latter having fastened to it a footing plate 14. Parts of the motivating means are supported within the base 12, as will appear hereinafter. The means for holding the work and operating on it, which comprise essentially heel clamping means 16, a cutter 18 and the mechanism for effecting engagement of the work and cutter to trim the work, are mounted on the bed above the base and are adapted to be enclosed while not in use with a suitable cover 20 mounted on hinges so that it maybe lifted upwardly and supported in an out-of-theway position while using the machine.

The heel clamping means consists of a supporting table 22 and a clamping foot 24. The table 22, which is in the form of a heel-shaped block, is removably fastened to the upper end of a shaft 26, the latter being journaled in the bed 10 for rotation about a vertical axis, with its upper end projecting above the bed and its lower end projecting below the bed. Endwise movement of the shaft is taken up by a suitable bearing 28 situated between the upper side of the bed and the underside of the table 22, and at the underside of the bed by a thrust bearing 39. A pinion 32 is fastened to the portion of the shaft projecting below the bed and rotation of the pinion and hence of the shaft is effected by a rack 34 which is fastened to the protruding end of a piston rod 36 extending from the cylinder of a fluid motor. The motor is suitably fastened to a bracket 40, which in turn is fastened to the underside of the bed.

The clamping foot 24 is in the form of a fiat plate removably mounted on the lower end of a sleeve 42. The plate corresponds in shape to the heel to be operated on but is slightly smaller, so as to provide clamping pressure close to the peripheral edge without interfering with the cutter. The sleeve 42 is rotatably mounted on the lower end of a piston rod 44 extending downwardly from the cylinder of a fluid motor 46, which is supported vertically above the base, with the axis of the rod aligned with the axis of the shaft 26. Spaced channel members 48-43 (FIGS. 1 and 2), fastened to the bed, perpendicular thereto support a horizontally disposed beam 5-0 to which the cylinder of the motor 46 is fastened on end. Corner braces 52 (FIG. 1) make the superstructure rigid so that clamping action is positive. A thrust hearing or sleeve 54 (FIG. 2) is mounted on the rod 44 with its lower end engaged with an antifriction bearing 56 resting on the upper end of the sleeve 42 and its upper end engaged by lock nuts 58 for holding it against the antifriction bearing. To provide lateral support, a bracket plate 51 is fastened to the beam 50 so as to extend downwardly therefrom parallel to the axis of the sleeve and a block 53, having a vertical passage through it for slidably accommodating the sleeve 54 is fastened to the bracket. The clamping foot 24, as thus supported, is free to rotate about the vertical axis of the rod 44 and is movable to and from the table 22.

The table and foot constitute vertically spaced clamping members movable into engagement to support the work for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the work. The work to be operated upon is placed on the table 22 and clamped down by lowering the foot 24 into engagement with it, whereupon, the clamps are rotated as 'with the breast line of the heel.

a nit with respect to the cutter which is brought into engagement with the work, as will appear hereinafter. To effect trimming, according to the shape desired, a cam 60 is fastened to the lower part of the supporting table, the peripheral surface of which corresponds to the shape which is to be imparted to the work. The cam 60 may be an integral part of the table or a separate part and, in any event, the two are removably fixed to the shaft 26 so as to be readily removable for replacement with a table and cam of different size and/or shape. A gauge roll 61 is mounted on the table 22 for positioning the work and,ywhen the latter is a heel (FIG. 4), for engagement The breast line of the supporting table contains a vertically disposed dovetailed groove 63 (FIG. 8) for removably receiving a slide 65 and the latter supports a gauge plate 62 (FIG. which supports a pair of spaced pins 64 for positioning the work on the table when the latter is a sole with the heel attached thereto.

The cutter 18 (FIG. 2) is arranged to be moved into engagement with the Work when the latter is clamped between the supporting table and the clamping foot and to be guided so as to follow the contour of the work by a follower 66, which is adapted to engage the cam 60.

Movement of the cutter and follower to and from the workpiece is effected by a carriage 68 slidably mounted on a flat plate 70 fastened to the bed. The plate 70 has spaced parallel, re-entrant ways 72-72, between which the carriage is mounted, the latter having ribs 7373 (BIG. 2) at its edges slidably engaged with the ways to guide the carriage linearly to and from the Work. The carriage is connected at its rear end to a rod 74 extending a from the cylinder of a fluid motor 76, the latter being fastened to a bracket plate 78, which in turn is fastened to the bed 10. riage 68 between re-entrant Ways 8282 for movement forwardly and rearwardly with respect to the Work on the carriage. The rear end of the slide plate 80 is connected to a rod 84 which projects forwardly from the cylinder of a motor 86 mounted on a bracket 88, which in turn is fastened to the rear end of the carriage.

Normally, the slide plate 80 is held forwardly displaced with reference to the carriage by the motor 86. A bearing block 90 is bolted to'the top side of the slide 80 and has at its 7 bearing sleeve. The cutter 100, which may be of any suitable kind is shown herein as having a plurality of sloping teeth circumferentially thereof, and is fastened 7 to the lower end of the shaft 94. It is obvious that any suitable kind of cutting tool may be substituted for the one shown in accordance'with the character of the work.

The upper end of the shaft 94 has fastened'to it a pulley 102 and 'a belt 104 'is entrained "about this pulley and a pulley 105 fastened to the downwardly projecting shaft 106 of *an electric motor M, mounted between brackets 108-108 fastenedto the top of the bearing block.

The follower 66 is mounted on a vertically disposed in 110, vertically below and axially aligned with the shaft 94 on a'bracket 112, which is fastened to the forwardfiend'or an adjustable plate 114. The plate '114 is slidably mounted in a groove at the underside of the block 90 and adjustment is eifected by'a'screw 116 connected to the rear end of the plate and threaded through a flange 118311116 rear side of the bearing block.

' As thus arranged, it is apparent'that one or more workpieces such as one or more heel blanks (FIG. 4), comprised ofone or more layers or'one or more precut sole blanks with heel blanks attached thereto (FIG. 5), may 'be clamped between the table and foot, whereupon, the carriage may be advanced to' bring the follower into engagement with the cam. As the'heel or heels are rotated the slide 'on the carriage will move relative thereto so A slide plate 80 is mounted on the car--- V the sake of simplicity in the description of the organization of parts, the operating tool is referred to as a cut that the cutter will follow the contour of the work and thus trim it according to the dictates of the cam. Right and left sole blanks with heel blanks attached may be stacked one on top of another as shown in FIG. 6.

The motivating means for various parts is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 3 and comprises essentially an oil reservoir 120, a pump P and a motor M2 for driving the pump so as to deliver oil from the reservoir at a suit able pressure to the cylinders of the several motors 38, 46 and 76 and to the cylinder of the motor 86. Pressure fluid is delivered to the cylinder of the motor 38 through a valve V1, the position of which is controlled by a solenoid S1; pressure fluid is delivered to the cylinder of the motor 46 through a valve V2, the position of which is controlled by a solenoid S2; pressure fluid is delivered to the cylinder of the motor '76 through a valve V3, the position of which is controlled by a solenoid S3; and pressure fluid is delivered to the cylinder of the motor 86 through a valve V4, the position of which is controlled by a solenoid S4. The solenoids S1, S2, S3 and S4 are connected to a timer 122, the latter controlling the sequence of operation of the several solenoids, so that fluid pressure is first supplied to the motor 46 to apply pressure to the presser foot to hold the work against the table, pressure fluid is then delivered to the motors 76 and 86 to advance the carriage to bring the follower into engagement with the cam and to the motor 38 to initiate rotation of the support when the contact is made and to withdraw the carriage when the trimming is completed. There is an adjustable relief valve 124 in the line connecting the valve V4 with the motor 86 and this permits the slide carrying the follower and cutter to move rearwardly as the follower is displaced, by rotation of the support, by allowing fluid to vent from the rear end of the motor 86 when the rearward pressure exceeds a predetermined amount. The resistance to displacement is controlled by an adjustment 126 (needle valve), at the rear end of the motor, which permits flow of fluid from the motor 86 to the reservoir.

It is desirable to bring the clamping foot into engagement with the heel manually before clamping pressure is applied to permit adjustment of the work without danger.

of injury. To this end the block 53 has at its opposite sides vertically disposed slots 130-430 (FIG. 7). The sleeve 54 has on it diametrically disposed pins 138-138 V which extend through the slots. A yoke member 128,

having a pair of spaced parallel arms 132132, is fixed to a horizontal shaft 134, the latter being supported by the'spaced arms 136-136 of a U-shaped bearing bracket 137 fastened to the bracket plate 51 on the beam 50. The arms 132-132 of the yoke member 128 which is fixed to the shaft 134 are bifurcated to receive the outwardly projecting ends of pins 138-138. An am 142 is fastened to 'the shaft 134 and at its distal end there is a rod 144 which extends downwardly therefrom to the foot of the machine where there is a treadle 146 for eflecting rotation of the shaft 134. Rotation of the shaft 134 will rock the "arms 132-132 about the axis of the shaft 134 as a center and hence raise or lower the sleeve 42 relative to the table 22.

For safety purposes the machine is designed so that it cannot be started until the operator has removed his hands from the vicinity of the clamps and cutter. To this end, the timer 122, which controls operation of the machine is wired so that it cannot be started without depression of both of the starting buttons a and b and these are located at opposite sides of the base so that it is im- -possible to close both switcheswith one hand.

'While the invention is described herein as designed for trimming, it is to be understood that the machine can perform other operations on the edges of heels such as bufling, blacking, knurling, and the like and, while for ter, thelatter may be replaced by tools for performing any of the operations suggested or their equivalent without departing from the spirit of the invention.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a heel trimming machine, a rotatable support having a flat supporting surface, a cam fixed to the support and rotatable therewith, said cam corresponding in shape to the periphery of the heel to be trimmed, a gauge on the support for aligning the heel with the cam, a clamp situated opposite the flat surface of the support movable into engagement with a heel resting on the supporting surface to clamp the heel thereto, said clamp being free to rotate with the support, a carriage movable to and from the support, a cutter, and follower, a slide yieldably mounting the cutter and follower on the carriage in a forwardly displaced position, means for effecting movement of the carriage to bring the forwardly displaced cutter and follower into engagement with the periphery of the heel and cam respectively, means for effecting rotation of the support to turn the heel and cam relative to the cutter and follower, the follower operating to displace the cutter variably on the carriage, according to the dictates of the cam, and means for effecting rotation of the cutter while in contact with the heel.

2. In a heel trimming machine, a rigid bed, a shaft journaled on the bed with its axis of rotation perpendicular thereto, a table fast to the shaft for rotation therewith, said table having an upper flat surface for receiving a heel, a cam on the table corresponding in shape to the heel to be trimmed, a gauge on the table for aligning the heel with the cam, a clamp mounted above the table for movement into clamping engagement, a heel disposed on the table, the clamp being free to turn with the table, a carriage on the bed movable horizontally toward the table, a slide on the carriage, means yieldably holding the slide forwardly displaced with respect to the carriage, a cutter and follower mounted on the slide and movable therewith and with the carriage by movement of the latter to bring the cutter and follower into engagement with the heel and cam respectively, means on the slide for effecting rotation of the cutter, means on the bed for effecting movement of the carriage to bring the follower into engagement with the heel cam, and means for effecting rotation of the table, said follower being movable according to the dictates of the cam to shift the slide on the carriage as the cutter travels peripherally of the heel.

3. In a heel trimming machine, a rigid bed, a shaft journaled on the bed with its axis perpendicular thereto, a table fast to the shaft above the bed, a pinion fast to the shaft below the bed, a fluid motor mounted on the bed above the table containing a downwardly protruding ram aligned with the axis of the shaft, the lower end of which is adapted to clamp a workpiece on the table, a cam on the table corresponding to the shape of the workpiece to be trimmed, a carriage slidable on the bed to and from the table, a fluid motor fast to the bed operable to advance and retract the carriage, a slide mounted on the carriage, a cylinder on the carriage yieldably holding the slide forwardly displaced relative to the carriage, a follower and cutter mounted on the slide movable with the carriage into engagement with the cam and the workpiece, a motor on the slide operable to rotate the cutter, a rack engaged with the pinion and a fluid motor operable to effect movement of the rack to thereby rotate the table, said follower being operable by contact with the cam to cause the cutter to follow the contour of the work.

4. In a machine for operating on the peripheral edge of a workpiece, a tool, spaced clamps movable relative to each other to clamp a workpiece between them, and rotatable in unison about an axis perpendicular thereto relative to the tool, means for effecting relative movement of the clamps to bring them into engagement with the work, and other means for applying clamping pressure to the clamps after they have been brought into engagement with the work.

5. In a machine for operating on the peripheral edge of a workpiece, a tool, a table, means mounting the table for rotation, a clamping foot spaced from the table, means supporting the clamping foot for rotation and for movement toward the table, means for effecting movement of the clamping foot toward the table to clamp a workpiece between it and the table, means for applying clamping pressure to the clamping foot against the work, and means for effecting rotation of the table and hence rotation of the clamping foot in unison therewith relative to the tool.

6. In a machine for operating on the peripheral edge of a workpiece, a tool, a table, a shaft supporting the table for rotation, a clamping foot, a second shaft supporting the clamping foot for rotation and movement toward the table, linkage operably connected to the second shaft to move it in a direction to move the clamping foot against the work on the table, a fluid motor operably connected to the second shaft operable to apply pressure to the clamping foot to clamp the clamping foot against work on the table, and a fluid motor operable to effect rotation of the first shaft, and hence rotation of the table and the clamping foot in unison relative to the tool.

7. In a machine for operating on the peripheral edge of a workpiece, a tool, a table, a shaft supporting the table for rotation, a second shaft, a bearing supporting said second shaft in alignment with the first shaft for retation, and for movement toward the table, a clamping foot fixed to the end of the second shaft next to the table, a fluid motor operably connected to said second shaft, a sleeve on said second shaft within which it is free to retate, means for effecting movement of the sleeve to move said second shaft toward the table to bring the clamping foot into engagement with the work on the table, means for supplying fluid pressure to the fluid motor to apply clamping pressure to the clamping foot, and means for effecting rotation of the first shaft to turn the table and the clamping foot clamped against it in unison relative to the tool.

8. In a machine for operating on the peripheral edge of a workpiece, a tool, a table, a first shaft supporting the table for rotation, a fluid cylinder containing a second shaft mounted above the table with the second shaft in alignment with the first shaft, a clamping foot rotatably mounted at the lower end of the second shaft, a sleeve on said shaft, a bearing block within which the sleeve is free to slide axially, said bearing block containing diametrically disposed slots, pins on the sleeve projecting through the slots, an arm having bifurcated portions engaged with the pins, a treadle operable to rock the arm in a direction to lower the sleeve and hence to move the clamping foot into engagement with the work on the table, means for supplying fluid pressure to the fluid motor to apply clamping pressure to the clamping foot, and means for effecting rotation of the first shaft to rotate the table relative to the work.

9. In a machine for operating on the peripheral edge of a workpiece, a tool and spaced clamps, means mounting the clamps for relative movement to bring them into engagement with the workpiece and to permit rotation relative to the tool, said clamps being shaped to engage the work close to the peripheral edge to be operated upon but leaving a margin projecting from between them for engagement of the tool therewith without engagement of the latter with the clamps, said clamps being removable from said mounting means to permit replacement according to the size and shape of the work.

10. -In a machine for operating on the peripheral edge of a workpiece, work-engaging clamps including means for moving the clamps into engagement with the work, and a fluid motor for applying clamping pressure to the 7 clamps, a carriage movable toward the work-engaging clamps, a tool yieldably mounted on the carriage, a fluid motor for effecting movement of the carriage to bring the tool into engagement with the work, a -fluid motor for effecting rotation of the clamps to turn the work relative to the tool While the latter is engaged with the Work, means for efiecting movement of the tool on the carriage as the work is rotated relative thereto, means for supplying fluid pressure to the fluid motors, and a timer for controlling the flow of fluid pressure to the respective fluid motors, to apply clamping pressure to the clamps,

s move the carriage to engage the tool with the Work and simultaneously to initiate rotation of the work.

References Cited in'the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,357,203 Overlin Oct. 26, 1920 1,384,348 Riedy July 12, 1921 2,606,582 Horansky Aug. '12, 1952. 2,720,668 Liberty Oct. 18, 1955 2,892,199 Murphy June so, 1959 

1. IN A HEEL TRIMMING MACHINE, A ROTATABLE SUPPORT HAVING A FLAT SUPPORTING SURFACE, A CAM FIXED TO THE SUPPORT AND ROTATABLE THEREWITH, SAID CAM CORRESPONDING IN SHAPE TO THE PERIPHERY OF THE HEEL TO BE TRIMMED, A GAUGE ON THE SUPPORT FOR ALIGNING THE HEEL WITH THE CAM, A CLAMP SITUATED OPPOSITE THE FLAT SURFACE OF THE SUPPORT MOVABLE INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH A HEEL RESTING ON THE SUPPORTING SURFACE TO CLAMP THE HEEL THERETO, SAID CLAMP BEING FREE TO ROTATE WITH THE SUPPORT, A CARRIAGE MOVABLE TO AND FROM THE SUPPORT, A CUTTER, AND FOLLOWER, A SLIDE YIELDABLY MOUNTING THE CUTTER AND FOLLOWER ON THE CARRIAGE IN A FORWARDLY DISPLACED POSITION, MEANS FOR EFFECTING MOVEMENT OF THE CARRIAGE TO BRING THE FORWARDLY DISPLACED CUTTER AND FOLLOWER INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE PERIPHERY OF THE HEEL AND CAM RESPECTIVELY, MEANS FOR EFFECTING ROTATION OF THE SUPPORT TO TURN THE HEEL AND CAM RELATIVE TO THE CUTTER AND FOLLOWER, THE FOLLOWER OPERATING TO DISPLACE THE CUTTER VARIABLY ON THE CARRIAGE, ACCORDING TO THE DICTATES OF THE CAM, AND MEANS FOR EFFECTING ROTATION OF THE CUTTER WHILE IN CONTACT WITH THE HEEL. 